Many
dogs are put to sleep by owners who can no longer figure out what to do with a
dog that barks or howls constantly when they are gone, destroys things in their
absence and basically makes a nuisance of himself. These people do not understand that the dog
is not being disobedient—he is most likely suffering from separation anxiety.
Dogs
are pack animals. As his family, you are
his pack. When you leave him alone, he
feels lost and scared. Often loud noises
will frighten him. His howling and
destructiveness are the only way he has of showing his displeasure. You can help him get through this with
patience.
Try
to find a room where he feels comfortable—one that isn’t close to a street or
other traffic. If possible, buying a
crate made specifically for the size of your dog will help him feel more
comfortable. Placing a loved toy and an
item of clothing that smells like you inside with him will increase that
comfort.
Start
by leaving him only a few minutes at a time.
He needs to be confident that you will return. You can gradually extend the amount of time
as he becomes more comfortable. Praise him greatly for every time he waits quietly. If all else fails, talk with your vet and see
if he can prescribe some type of anti-anxiety medication to give your dog when
you need to be away.
Your
dog can’t help his anxiety. You are his
safety and he feels lost without you.
Give him time and patience and he will eventually learn to tolerate your
absence. There is no reason to have a
healthy animal put down because he loves you so much he misses you when you are
gone. Work with him. You and he will both benefit from this.
No comments:
Post a Comment